IUSA

Gordon signs IU letter of intent

By Matt Mattucci · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

For months, IU coach Kelvin Sampson has dealt with questions regarding recruit Eric Gordon. For months, Sampson has given the same response: "I can't comment about that." With Gordon signing a national letter of intent with IU Wednesday morning, Sampson is finally able to talk about his prized recruit. "Gordon is a dynamic player. Offensively there's so many different ways he can score the basketball," the first-year Hoosier coach said at a press conference Wednesday evening. "This kid scores really high on the 'wow' scale. He's good. He's an impact guard."

IU alumnus nominated for Secretary of Defense

By Chris Freiberg and Warren Christopher Freiberg · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:28 a.m.

Political science professors are divided as to the meaning of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's surprise resignation Wednesday, though they are pleased President George W. Bush nominated an IU alumnus to replace him. Bush nominated Robert Gates, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and current president of Texas A&M University to replace Rumsfeld.

Students optimistic for change after elections

By Brian Spegele · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12:26 a.m.

The choice word for many students around campus Wednesday was "optimistic." Following the results of Tuesday's election, students said they were optimistic for change, others for peace, while many expressed a general hope for the future of the nation. Just a day after Republicans lost control of the House for the first time since 1994 and with the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, students who wanted reform said they are now ready to accept the changes Democrats have promised.

Stupider than fiction

By C. Warner Sills and Chris Freiberg · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Will Ferrell is a mediocre comedian. There, I said it. I'm sorry, but it's true. He has one and a half characters (crazy guy who screams stuff and mostly quiet, weird guy who occasionally screams crazy stuff).

This 'Flush' is not crap

By C. Warner Sills and Alyson Brodsky · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

This past year has been big for animated movies. Hits like "Cars" and "Open Season" have been box office successes. So what exactly do directors like David Bowers and Sam Fell consider while trying to make "Flushed Away" stand out? For starters, it helps having a creative and original plot. And whether Bowers and Fell actually thought about gearing this movie directly toward kids, they were clever enough to add jokes that can be enjoyed by adults.

Deftones in space

By C. Warner Sills and Brian J. McFillen · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Allmusic.com is, by far, one of the best music information resources available anywhere. However, its main page on the Deftones -- on the band's sound, on its influences -- is absurdly out of date. "Along with Limp Bizkit," the band's biography starts off, "the Deftones are often considered to be disciples of Korn, but in fact, they've been around for just as long (if not longer)." Ouch.

More of the same... with one local twist

By C. Warner Sills and Julie Mahomed · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Despite encroachment from national chains, two local restaurants each ranked highly in three Best of Bloomington categories. If you are looking for the cream of the crop, try Malibu Grill or Bucceto's Smiling Teeth. These two restaurants tied as Bloomington's Best Restaurant. Malibu Grill was also the Best First Date Restaurant and the Best Place for Dinner with Parents.

Borat will not 'be execute'

By C. Warner Sills and Zack Teibloom · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

I never thought I would rave about a movie where the main character repeatedly bashed Judaism and is involved in a full-frontal male nudity scene that prompts him to say, "My moustache still tastes of your testes," but "Borat" is niiiice. I'd waited two anxious years for the Borat movie after becoming obsessed with talking like Sacha Baron Cohen's character on "Da Ali G Show," and somehow the film exceeded my wildest expectations. I tell you more. Dzienkuje.

Bloomington's Best Buddies

By C. Warner Sills and Whitney Mitchell · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Toward the end of another lackluster psychology lecture, senior Kimberly Ranney grows anxious and glances at her phone to check the time. Only six more minutes until class is over, and then it's off to Kady's highly anticipated first basketball game of the season, she thinks to herself. After picking her up from school and walking her to the locker room at the gym, Ranney finds a good spot in the bleachers and chants "Go Kady!" as she makes her debut on the court. Anyone who didn't know the pair would think they were sisters by the way they interacted, but they aren't. Yet even though their connection isn't a biological one, Kimberly is Katie's big sister in the eyes of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

I want my PopoZao

By C. Warner Sills and Joanna Borns · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Everyone remembers what they were doing the moment they heard that Kevin Federline was recording his own album. I was purchasing a new platinum chain shaped like a dollar sign... or maybe I was in the fast lane getting my smash on. I could've been skatin' off in my 'rari. I actually don't remember. (Warning: If you have a problem with abbreviating Kevin Federline to K-Fed, shield your eyes.)

The Who are back

By C. Warner Sills and John Barnett · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

As someone who used to listen to The Who's 1971 album Who's Next once a day for about a year, I can tell you that their first studio effort since 1982's It's Hard is, in fact, hard. Hard in a good way, though. Contrary to 1969's rock opera "Tommy," which consisted of a smattering of excellent full-length compositions stitched together with small fragments of tracks that served the purpose of gelling the narrative, Endless Wire is frontloaded with full songs, saving its own mini-opera for tracks 10 through 21.

Par for the course

By C. Warner Sills and Mark Perlman-Price · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Few video games are able to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. No matter how realistic the players or crowds look, you still know you're not intercepting an errant Brett Favre pass or dunking over Shaq. But when you're in "Tiger Woods PGA Tour '07", you cross that line. You can feel the pressure as your video game-self prepares to tee off on the 17th at TPC at Sawgrass, the gale-force wind just waiting to take your ball into the water, Tiger breathing down your neck as you compete in match play.

Size does matter

By C. Warner Sills and Zack Teibloom · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

WEEKEND writer Zack Teibloom takes a drink for the team on his quest to uncover what makes the Kilroys Sports' atmosphere so intoxicating. Bloomington has spoken. They enjoy the packed porch and one floor "birth canal" that is Kilroy's with "Sweet Caroline" wafting through the speakers. They still love sinking the biz and catching up with alumni at the "Cheers"-like atmosphere of Nick's. But most of all, the newly renovated Sports with "something for everyone" is where IU students want to spend their nights. After winning the last three years, Nick's English Hut was knocked off the top bar podium, according to the results of the 2006 Best of Bloomington poll. After not even cracking the top three last year, Sports won Best Bar with Nick's ranked second and Kilroy's taking the bronze. I went out Saturday night to talk to bartenders, managers, and the people who love the bars to see what the drinkers and drink dispensers really think.

Watch the flick, ignore the antics

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

If you didn't see "Mission: Impossible III" this past summer because of Tom Cruise's behavior on TV, well, then you're a moron. As crazy as he has been on Oprah's couch and in interviews with Matt Lauer, the man makes damn good movies, and his whole Scientology background has no influence in his film work. Considering "M:I:3" was one of the best action movies of this year, I'd highly suggest you rent it now on DVD.

Dud looked like a 'Lady'

By C. Warner Sills and Stuart McWhirter · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

I was first introduced to Lady Sovereign last year through a single, "Random." My first thought upon hearing the track was, "God, this sounds like a really bad M.I.A. song." Sovereign's debut album, A Public Warning, proved my memory's not as bad as I thought. Nearly every track sounded like M.I.A.'s fantastic fast-paced pieces, yet each song fell short of what M.I.A. regularly achieves. Lady Sovereign defies every convention; she is a white, female, British rapper. Although her music isn't always great, you can't say she's not a rebel. But believe me, she won't let you forget either.

Only with Cuarón

By Chris Wisner and compiled by Chris Wisner · Thursday, Nov. 9,2006 12 a.m.

Long before Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón would direct "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" or earn an Oscar nomination for the widely appreciated "Y tu mamá también," he would leave his TV career in the dust and create his auspicious debut, "Sólo con tu pareja" ("Only with Your Partner").

LSAT change the biggest in 15 years

By Zachary Osterman · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 11:34 p.m.

The biggest change to the Law School Admissions Test in more than a decade could significantly impact the way students prepare for the exam. The change will take effect in June. The adjustment, which will add a comparative reading section to the test, could have an notable effect on a student's score, said Ben Baron, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions' vice president of graduate programs. "This is actually the largest change the LSAT has undergone in the last 15 years, which means this is a test that does not change very often," Baron said. "It is enough questions that could influence a student's score by three to six points, which for the LSAT could be significant."

Lambda Chi sign lit on fire by flaming beer bottle

By Kristi Oloffson · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 11:34 p.m.

The IU Police Department is investigating a fire in front of and on the stone sign outside of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 1210 E. Third St., early Wednesday morning. IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said police, while driving by the house, saw flames coming from a beer bottle. A cloth wick was found next to the bottle, he said. Minger said it is possible the arsonist could have put the wick into the bottle and thrown it, lighting the sign on fire.

'White Out' to raise terrorism awareness

By Kristi Oloffson · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 11:33 p.m.

Students will hand out white T-shirts today to promote terrorism awareness thanks to a $5,000 grant from the IU Student Association. With the idea of "turning it around," the Students Against Terrorism group will distribute about 1,500 shirts to "white out" the campus, as today's date is Nov. 9 (11/9), the opposite of Sept. 11 (9/11), said the organization's president, junior Danny Schwarz. The IU Student Association is the main sponsor, he said, helping to pay for the shirts and advertising with the grant. The shirts will say "SAT" and "11/9/06" on the front, and "turning things around" on the back, Schwarz said.

IU general counsel adds vice president to title

By Brian Spegele · Wednesday, Nov. 8,2006 11:33 p.m.

IU President Adam Herbert named Dorothy Frapwell the University's vice president and general counsel Friday after he said a change in Frapwell's title would more accurately reflect her responsibilities, according to an IU news release. This is the first time IU has regarded a general counsel as equivalent with a vice president. "She already operates at the vice president level," Larry MacIntyre, IU director of Media Relations, said. He said he believed the change was very much in line with the way other "Big Ten and large universities" organize legal advisors. Frapwell agreed and said the legal work within a university has become as important as any other University office.